Chapter 3: Crossing Boundaries

Friday Morning: Planting the Idea

The sun was just beginning to rise when Maeve arrived at Maplewood Farms. Even though it was still late summer the cool morning air had a crispness to it that made her shiver slightly as she walked toward the barn, the familiar smell of hay and horses greeting her. Friday mornings were quiet, the farm still waking up as Maeve slipped inside and began her routine.

But underneath her excitement, Maeve felt something else stirring. She couldn’t stop thinking about Pebble. Yesterday’s connection, the way their eyes had met across the paddock—it had lingered with her long after she’d left the farm. She couldn’t shake the sense that Pebble was more than what she seemed. ’Was there still a part of Jessica in her?’ Maeve wondered.

She shook the thoughts away as she entered the barn, ready to begin her morning chores. She went through the motions—feeding the horses, mucking out the stalls—but her mind kept wandering. The work was getting easier, but it was also physically demanding, and Maeve felt the strain of it on her clothes. Her shirt stuck to her back, sweat trickling down her neck. She sighed, frustrated at the thought of showing up to school smelling like hay and dirt.

Maeve finished with the horses and moved to clean out the stalls, her muscles already aching from the physical work. She could feel the sweat coating her lithe body causing her shirt to stick to her body; making it semi-transparent. She sighed, thinking about how uncomfortable she’d be sitting in class later, knowing her shirt was soaked through.

As if on cue, Erica appeared in the barn doorway, a small smile on her face as she watched Maeve work. “You’re here early again,” she commented, her tone light.

Maeve wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “Yeah, lots to do before school.”

Maeve turned to see Erica standing by the barn door, her arms crossed casually. As always, Erica exuded calm confidence, her auburn hair pulled back in a neat braid. She watched Maeve with a knowing look, as if she could sense the struggle Maeve was going through.

“Just a little sweaty,” Maeve admitted, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. “It’s hard to keep clean before school.”

Erica smiled slightly, walking over to where Maeve was working. “You know, there’s an easy solution to that.”

Maeve raised an eyebrow, not quite following. “What do you mean?”

“You could work nude in the mornings,” Erica said casually, leaning against a nearby stall. “It’s practical. That way, you don’t have to worry about your school clothes getting ruined. You can just shower afterward.”

The suggestion hit Maeve like a splash of cold water. She blinked, caught completely off guard. “Nude? Here?” She couldn’t help the nervous laugh that escaped her lips. “I don’t know if I could do that.”

Erica shrugged, her expression calm and nonchalant. “It’s not as weird as it sounds. You wouldn’t be the first, and it’s just you and the animals during the early shift. Since you started working the early shift to feed the horses, the men don’t come in until you’ve already left for school. Plus, the showers are right here. You could wash up before heading to school.”

“I’ll think about it,” Maeve said, offering Erica a small smile.

“Good. Let me know if you want to try it,” Erica replied before heading off to tend to her duties.

Maeve returned to her work, her mind buzzing with the possibilities. ’Maybe tomorrow, ‘ she thought to herself. Maeve shifted awkwardly, the idea both intriguing and unsettling. She’d seen the ponygirls walking around nude under their harnesses, but she hadn’t considered being exposed like that herself. ’Was she really that comfortable at the farm?’

“Just a suggestion,” Erica said, her tone light. “But if you’re not ready for that, maybe try something in between. A bikini, maybe? You’d still be covered, but it’s easier to work in, and you wouldn’t ruin your clothes.”

Maeve considered this, her mind whirling. The idea of working in a bikini felt a little less intense, but it was still a big step. She liked the practicality of it—after all, her clothes had been getting messier every morning, and she hated rushing to clean up before school.

“Yeah,” Maeve said after a pause, “maybe I could try that.”

Erica’s smile widened slightly. “Good. I think you’ll find it easier than you think.”

Saturday: First Time in the Bikini and Hoof Boots

The next morning, Maeve stood in front of the barn, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nerves. She had brought her bikini with her, tucked into her bag. The thought of working in just a bikini felt ... odd. But at the same time, something about it felt right. The farm had become a place where the rules were different—where she was beginning to feel more like herself, free from the constraints of the outside world.

In the tack room, Maeve quickly changed into the bikini, her hands trembling slightly as she slipped it on. She hung her clothes on a couple of hangers that were on a hook inside of the tack room. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and felt a flutter of uncertainty. ’What am I doing?’ The cool morning air brushed against her exposed skin as she pulled on her shoes and walked out into the barn. She felt self-conscious at first, but the familiar rhythm of the farm helped calm her nerves. The bikini wasn’t so bad, she realized—it was freeing, in a way.

Maeve began her chores, moving through the barn with newfound ease. Without the weight of her school clothes, she felt lighter, freer. The cool morning air on her skin was refreshing, and as she worked, she started to forget her initial discomfort. As she continued her morning chores, Maeve noticed Erica approaching, her sharp eyes taking in Maeve’s new look.

“You did it,” Erica said, smiling as she stopped next to Maeve. “How’s it feel?”

“Strange,” Maeve admitted. “But not bad.”

Erica nodded approvingly. “You’ll get used to it. It’s a lot more comfortable for the work we do here. Want to take it a step further?”

Maeve raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Erica gestured to the tack room. “It’s not safe for you to work barefoot. We’ve got a pair of hoof boots that should fit you. You’re already in the bikini, you might as well try the boots. It’s part of the experience.”

Maeve hesitated. The bikini was one thing, but the boots? That felt like another step entirely. Still, the curiosity gnawed at her. ’What would it feel like to wear them?’

“Alright,” Maeve said after a pause, surprising herself.

Erica disappeared into the tack room and returned with a sleek pair of black hoof boots. They looked unusual but surprisingly comfortable, and Maeve’s heart raced as she sat on a bale of hay and began pulling off her sneakers. The cool air hit her feet, and she glanced at Erica, who nodded encouragingly.

“Go ahead,” Erica said. “They’ll fit.” To her surprise, they fit perfectly, hugging her feet in all the right places.

Maeve slid the first boot on, feeling an odd sense of excitement as it hugged her foot snugly. To her surprise, it fit perfectly. She repeated the process with the other boot and stood up slowly, testing her balance. The boots felt strange at first, but as Maeve took a few tentative steps, she realized they weren’t as difficult to walk in as she had expected.

“How do they feel?” Erica asked, watching Maeve with a smile.

“Different,” Maeve said, standing up and testing her balance. The boots made her stand a bit taller, and walking in them felt strange at first, but as she took a few more steps, she realized it wasn’t as difficult as she had imagined.

Maeve noticed the inside of the boots were contoured to fit the natural curve of her foot. They should support her arch and reduce the pain caused by high-heeled shoes. Even though she was standing on her toes like when wearing heels The boots were comfortable and fit her foot so well there was no sliding around inside the boot. ’Let’s see how form-fitting they are when my feet begin to sweat.’

Erica smiled, satisfied. “You look like a natural.”

Maeve continued her work, adjusting to the feel of the hoof boots with each passing moment. By the time she had finished with her chores, she was walking in them with ease, the initial awkwardness fading into the background. The bikini and boots felt almost ... normal.

There was something exhilarating about it, something that made her feel more connected to the world of Maplewood. She glanced toward the paddock, where the ponygirls would soon begin their training, and felt a strange thrill run through her.

‘Was this what it felt like for them?’

Interlude: Day Off and Time with Her Mom

Sunday morning was a sharp contrast to the past few days. The familiar scents of the farm were replaced by the smell of coffee and pancakes as Maeve sat at the kitchen table with her mom, trying to focus on the present. The warmth of home was comforting, but her mind kept drifting back to Maplewood.

“Maeve, you’re quiet today,” her mother said, glancing over at her from the stove. “Is something on your mind?”

Maeve shook her head, offering a small smile. “No, just thinking about work.”

Her mother smiled, flipping the pancakes onto a plate. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it there, but don’t let it take over your life. You need balance.”

“I know,” Maeve replied, though her thoughts were elsewhere. She still felt the weight of the hoof boots from yesterday, the sensation of walking in them lingering long after she had taken them off.

The day passed slowly, filled with the usual weekend tasks—laundry, cleaning, and housework. Maeve tried to focus on the mundane, but the farm kept creeping into her thoughts. Was this normal? she wondered. Was it normal to feel so drawn to a place, to a lifestyle, that was so different from everything she had known?

In the afternoon, Maeve met up with Kelsey, and they drove to the mall together. The chatter between them was light, but Kelsey, as always, noticed something was off.

“You’re distracted,” Kelsey said as they walked through the mall. “You’ve been quiet all day.”

Maeve hesitated. She hadn’t told Kelsey about the bikini or the boots. How could she explain it without sounding ... strange?

“It’s just the farm,” Maeve finally said. “It’s ... a lot to take in.”

Kelsey frowned, her concern growing. “Maeve, you’re getting way too caught up in that place. It’s just a job, right?”

Maeve nodded, but inside, she knew it wasn’t that simple. It wasn’t just a job anymore.

Interlude: A Day at the Mall

The afternoon sun bathed the parking lot in its hot radiance. Waves of heat could be seem radiating up from the surface of the parking lot. The weekend crowd had already filled most of the spaces, and as Maeve stepped out of the car, she felt a brief sense of normalcy wash over her as a warm breeze caused the hem of her short dress to flutter briefly exposing her panties. It was a relief to be away from the farm, away from the intensity of her thoughts about Pebble, Erica, and the other ponygirls. But even as she walked beside Kelsey, the farm lingered in the back of her mind.

The cool, air-conditioned breeze hit them as they stepped inside the mall, the familiar smell of greasy food from the food court and new clothes filling the air. Maeve adjusted the strap of her purse, trying to focus on the day ahead with Kelsey.

“So,” Kelsey began, looping her arm through Maeve’s as they headed toward the clothing stores, “what’s the plan? Are we doing our usual shopping spree, or are you going to keep daydreaming about the farm?”

Maeve laughed softly, nudging Kelsey with her shoulder. “I’m here, I promise. Let’s find some cute clothes.”

They wandered through a few stores, flipping through racks of jeans, tops, and dresses. Kelsey kept up her usual chatter, holding up shirts and skirts to show Maeve, and trying to pull her into the excitement of finding the perfect outfit. But Maeve couldn’t shake the strange sense of detachment she felt. ’It’s just clothes,’ she thought. ’Why do I feel so different?’

“Hey,” Kelsey said, pulling Maeve toward a rack of sundresses, “try this on.”